Hey! I still have the writers block but Gotta Luv The Name gave me a reason to write. This is dedicated to her and her little sis Ariella. I wish everything to get better for her!

Chapter 3: Refusal Part 2

I don't remember how much time I was unconscious but I slowly started to wake. I felt dizzy and I had a terrible headache. One question popped in my mind – where was I? I noticed I was lying in a comfy bed. The room was plain. There were some bookshelves on the walls and a table near the large window.

"You're awake." Said someone and I jumped from the bed ending on the floor again.

Itachi was leaning against the door frame. Wait, Itachi? Why is he here? Or more correctly – why AM I here?! Wasn't he the one who caused my unconsciousness? Oh, I'm so going to kill him. Slowly and painfully!

"You again!" I growled standing from the floor. "You stupid Uchiha! I'm so going to kill you right now!"

"Wait, wait…" he sighed as he caught my fist. "Leader-sama wanted to speak with you this afternoon."

"Aww… Again?" I complained trying to free my hand. "*cough* Itachi… I want to be free!"

He released my fist and started to leave the room when I pocked him on the forehead like he used to do to Sasuke. His eyes narrowed dangerously but then he smirked and walked away leaving me alone in the boring room.

I walked to the window and looked outside. It was raining. I hated rain since… I don't remember since when. Curtains, curtains? Ah, there they are! I pulled them so I couldn't see the rain anymore. Then I started to rummage through the many scrolls on the shelves. After I read some of them I figured that this had been Orochimaru's room.

There were millions of forbidden jutsus in these scrolls. Some of the them were easy but other were too complicated even for an S-class criminal. My eyes caught a glimpse of one of the most complicated ones – the renascent technique. I found a piece of paper and wrote on it 'second chance' then attached it to that scroll. Maybe I could tell Pein about what I found in the room… Or maybe he already knows?

I stretched lazily and sat in the big armchair next to the bed and saw the plate of food that was on the nightstand. Oh, someone thought about me? I picked carefully the plate and sat in the armchair again.

The ramen or whatever it was called was very tasty. Now I knew why Naruto ate so much ramen! For dessert there was a cup of yummy looking fruits. Wow, I didn't know Akatsuki had a good taste in food. I picked a strawberry and continued reading a bingo book I found hidden behind some scrolls.

"Interesting… Here says Orochimaru left Akatsuki because of Itachi?" I murmured to myself. "Ah, right… They said it in the episodes, too. I wonder if…"

"Oh, so you actually knew something?" asked someone behind me. This someone definitely wasn't Itachi. It was…

"Madara?!" I shouted. "Haven't you ninjas heard of knocking on the door before coming in?! You're troublesome…"

"Pein sent me to bring you. It's already afternoon." Madara looked at the big clock on the wall. "Just change into these. He's waiting for you in the last room down this corridor."

Then the immortal Uchiha disappeared into a puff of smoke before I could complain about anything. He seemed to be clever enough... I looked at the clothes he gave me and foud a black mesh top, black pants, black ninja boots and an Akatsuki cloak. Yeah, the Akatsuki cloak I was dreaming of… Well, when I see Pein, I should thank him! After all not every day you have a chance to wear something like this.

I sighed and dressed quickly in the outfit. It fitted me perfectly. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The cloak was a bit oversized and I looked funny in it. No, I didn't look funny. I looked somewhat deadly. This piece of clothing didn't suit my character. Was Akatsuki actually for me? If Pein asked me to join what would I say? For a moment I panicked. My thoughts raced in my mind with no orientation.

After a few minutes I found myself looking at the strange girl in the mirror. She wasn't me. She looked more cruel and there was no smile on her face. Her eyes were narrowed slightly as she looked back at me.

"What are you doing! You can't refuse! It's once in a life opportunity!" yelled my inner angrily. "Don't even try to refuse! I'll kill you!"

"No, I refuse…" I murmured to myself. I wasn't going to listen to my inner voice. "I refuse for now…"

A/N – Really thanks for the reviews! The reviews are the thing that keeps the author writing. So I thank for the reviews from: Lunarfox's Silverdusk; Yue the snow queen; Scatter Inner Sakura; Yuti-chan and Gota Luv The Name.

Claire-chan, hope your sister likes it. Tell her to get better soon!

Alex